The Infatuations

DETROIT, MI -- Rock-soul band The Infatuations took home five Detroit Music Awards on Friday in an annual event at the Fillmore recognizing local talent and mainstream artists with ties to the Motor City.

Rapper Eminem's "The Marshal Mathers LP 2" won an award for outstanding national major-label album. His single "Berzerk" brought him another trophy for outstanding major-budget video.

The annual awards ceremony has been held since 1992, with the Detroit Music Awards Foundation looking to "nurture the musical community in the Detroit metropolitan area, and to create a network for musicians that cuts across genres and styles," according to the organization's website.

Award nominees perform primarily in southeast Michigan and the Flint area or have other approved connections to the region.

The Infatuations won awards for Outstanding Live Performance, Outstanding Blues/R&B Recording, Outstanding Video/Independent Budget, Outstanding R&B Artist/Group and Outstanding Rock/Pop Songwriter.

Detroit group Howling Diablos, singer/songwriter Carolyn Striho, drummer Skeeto Valdez and local Christian music performer Marq Andrew Spec each won three awards Friday.

Other nationally known performers that took home awards were Iggy & the Stooges for their album "Ready to Die," The Four Tops for their "50th Anniversary: Singles Collection 1962-1972" and Sponge for the single "Come in From The Rain." - MLive - Michigan

Many people say the Motown sound is dead. Those folks have not heard the music of the Infatuations. This is not your father’s Motown. It is new music with a hint of the oldie. Their singer, Caleb Gutierrez, packs enough emotion into his voice to satisfy any Motown fan. The group couples that voice with harmonies that are reminiscent of the Beach Boys or Def Leppard. You will also detect the influence of other Detroit legends from Seger to the MC5. Their music just sounds like Detroit, as well it should. They are all local talents.

The band began with Christian Draheim and Marco Lowe as an acoustic duo to attract business into the Eclipz Lounge in the Greektown Casino. They went through 15 musicians before the present six members finally gelled into a cohesive unit. After the summer festival season, they are spending time in the studio to complete their first full-length album, which is due next Feb. or March. Their catch-phrase is, “We provide anthems for all your party needs,” and they do a good job of it. Their music transcends age. A senior citizen is just as likely to enjoy their songs as a young music buff, especially if that senior citizen grew up here.

Their video, “Blame it on You,” was nominated for an Emmy Award. This is in conjunction with many other recent honors at the Detroit Music Awards. It was a surprise when spokesman Christian Draheim mentioned selling mortgages. When questioned he replied, “That is just one of the many hats of a Detroit musician. With six members we will have to become much more successful to live off our music. That is why the album is taking so long.” They also do charity work. They made a recording of Donny Hathaway’s “This Christmas,” which was given to a compilation album of Detroit talent to benefit The Holy Cross Children’s Services.

Their next local gig will be Nov. 27 at the Magic Bag in Ferndale. Tickets are $10. The doors open at 8 p.m.

It will be a triple video release with two other up-and-coming Detroit talents, Paulina Jayne and the Mike Leslie Band. The Infatuations recorded their video, “Yesterday Morning,” at Orchestra hall last May. All three videos were produced by the Capstone Film Class from Madonna University. So if you want to hear some good local sounds the night before Thanksgiving come on down and support our great home-grown talent. For a sample of their music, visit theinfatuations.com. - Metro Times - Detroit

One of the most beautiful things about music from Detroit is that it is incredibly diverse. There is not a singular sound that permeates the region. We are blessed in that sense. We have great rock. We have soul. We have crooners. The Infatuations are all of that wrapped into one band.

The funk-rock ensemble with soul to boot are mainstays of the great local scene. They might be headlining a show one night, opening for someone the next, and then getting on stage with THE Patti LaBelle a few nights later. That is exactly what happened for talented frontman Caleb Gutierrez.

At one of Labelle's recent shows, Gutierrez was recognized in the crowd. The next thing he knew, he was singing onstage with one of the Queens of American music. Talent recognizes talent. That is essentially how the band's co-founder, Christian Draheim got the guys together.

Draheim and Marco Lowe originally started the band as an acoustic cover duo. After realizing they had a knack for creating a unique but familiar sound, they expanded rapidly and started performing regularly. Drawing from everything is one of the keys to their success. From the Motown soul of the city to the garage rock coming from The Stooges or MC5 or the White Stripes, The Infatuations encompass the best parts about that Detroit sound and people have noticed.

Gutierrez, Draheim and crew have amassed 14 Detroit Music Award nominations. Fourteen. You know when you have to start using toes as counting tools for noms, you have done pretty well for yourself. This is just the beginning, really. The Infatuations possess a work ethic that any band wishes they had. After a successful 2013, the boys aren't resting on their laurels, either.

May 10 will see the band take over St. Andrew's Hall in what promises to be one of the biggest parties this year. They are teaming up with Ty Stone and together are throwing a dual release party. Their new album Detroit Block Party sees the band evolve into a creative force that nurtures talent from everyone involved. RDW called up Draheim and Gutierrez to talk about the DMAs, the new record and what drives the crew as they reach for new heights. Read on:

With so many strong characters in the band, how do you maintain a forward-moving band?

Christian Draheim: It's about dedication to the project. It comes before any individual. When you have the same common goal in mind, you can make it work. We want all of us to have a successful career.

What's the creation process like?

CD: A lot of songs start with me and Marco. For this record, we're really looking forward to a full collaboration. Everybody in the band is a writer. Caleb and Nick have done some songwriting for the record.

Caleb, you have a spectacular voice. What is it like getting to express it through great songs like "Yesterday Morning"?

Caleb Gutierrez: As a singer, I lose myself in the song. I try to find one person in the audience to focus on and get some eye contact going. The delivery can be really, really cool.

Do you guys get fans coming up after that show that are pretty much infatuated with Caleb's voice?

CD: Absolutely. Caleb is the most visible person in the band at this point. He supports a lot of bands and events in the city, too. He gets approached all the time.

CG: It helps that there is something for anybody that listens to the music. My grandparents can love it. All ages really. They'll come up and say "You made my day" and, "Can't wait to hear more." I go out and support local music to show we all got each other's back around town. I'm honored when people ask if I want to jam.

Hearing that positivity must be rejuvenating. Is that one of the best parts about making music?

CD: It's certainly not because we're getting paid a ton of money to do it.

CG: It's because we love it.

CD: Yeah, nailed it on the head there. It's a lot of love.

What is it about you guys that have made you one of the hardest working bands in Detroit?

CD: We're kind of misfits. The band took two years to really get together. This is the one place we all come together. This is where we get our confidence. And it works well because our egos don't get in the way of things. We come together for a mission. Sorry to run off a little bit but I get excited about that stuff.

You guys pulled in 14 Detroit Music Award nominations. That's a ton!

CG: Just being nominated for that many just makes you feel good. It comes from your peers, so there is respect there. Getting through all the phases... to have that many... it's an honor, really.

CD: Whether we win or don't win, it's awesome to have that many nominations. It's cool. It's from musical peers and sometimes when there can be competition, things can get weird. But we were taken aback when we found out. Pop rock, urban funk and R&B nominations for Caleb are pretty cool, too.

The diversity in your nominations is reflective of the band itself.

CG: It is cool. It represents the band essentially. We have soul, we have rock, we have pop. Being the lead singer is great, but it's special when it gets recognized like that. I'm just honored. In the end, it is really awesome. - Real Detroit Weekly

Put on your sexy pants, Cincinnati — The Infatuations have come to seduce you. From funky, rockin’ ragers to super-sensual slow burners, these Motor City men know how to make a wide range of good music. They may have started as a cover band, but they play their own tunes now and those tunes are niiiice. Even their loudest number is made for dancing shoes. Find a partner and dance the night away. After a few slow songs, and with the help of a brass player or two, you might find yourself taking someone home.

YDIIYD: Motown, a sexy falsetto, getting lucky. (DK) - City Beat - MPMF Guide - OH

While out and about at Ferndale’s Pig & Whiskey last month, I was enjoying some phenomenal barbecue while guzzling a Disco Lemonade when, what to my wondering ears should appear, but a beautiful sound.

Standing in front of the Jack Daniels Stage, I took in the mash-up of R&B, soul, funk, pop and rock sounds that make up Detroit-based band The Infatuations. As if the gorgeous, summer Sunday couldn’t get any better, it did, as soon as “Tonight We Celebrate” filled my ears.

The Infatuations is made up of Caleb Guiterrez (lead vocals), Christian Draheim (lead guitar), The Wolf (bass), Chris Polite (guitar), Robert Myers (drums) and Nick Behnan (lead guitar). The band is quite well known around Detroit, so there’s a good chance you’ve already heard one of their songs. This year alone, The Infatuations have won five Detroit Music Awards (with 14 nominations), appeared on the cover of Real Detroit Weekly, performed at a Detroit Tigers game, and sang the National Anthem at the Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix.

While not all of the band’s members are from Michigan, most of them have spent the majority of their lives in the Detroit area. Draheim co-founded The Infatuations in 2009 with Marco Lowe, who works in production and writing along with the band.

The Infatuations’ first album, “Detroit Block Party,” was released in April of this year, and as Draheim said, it’s a party soundtrack.

“It’s a summertime feel good album that you can turn on when it’s cold out to (relive) a moment in time, like the best barbecue or party you were ever at,” Draheim said.

The album was recorded in two parts: drum tracks were laid down at Rustbelt Studios in Royal Oak, and everything else was recorded at the band’s studio, Acid Grove Studios. Since releasing “Detroit Block Party,” the band has been performing a string of successful shows.

“We can fit into a lot of places musically, which creates a lot of opportunities for us,” Draheim said. “There’s something in it for everyone… we cross over culturally and (generationally).”

The band’s song, “Down Jefferson,” got its start on a whim as the guys were packing up after a rehearsal, as Behnan began a riff that rivaled Bob Seger’s “Turn the Page.”

“I remember being drawn in by the vibe of the riff. Then Caleb sang the first line, ‘When the lights go down in Detroit,’ and just hummed through some melodies,” Lowe said. “I mentioned that I thought it had tremendous potential and we should write a Detroit-themed song around that line.”

The band had been waiting for the right song to experiment adding hip-hop elements to, and this one was it. The song, according to Lowe, paints a picture of the reality and despair felt by the people of Detroit and gives those people a message of hope and love.

“Let’s stop waiting for some outside force to come in and fix things. Let’s take things into our own hands and take action on our own to rebuild Detroit. The song is meant to inspire people to come together and make this city great once again,” Draheim and Lowe said. “Some songs are difficult and laborious to translate from an idea to an actual album track, but ‘Down Jefferson’ was captured perfectly the way we envisioned it and we couldn’t be happier with the end result.”

Guiterrez said the song is pretty straightforward and literal—the opening line is setting up a scenario in which the listener can understand the real Detroit.

“’Down on Jefferson’ is a song of hope and truth,” Guiterrez said. “It specifically talks about Detroit, but the bigger message can be understood by everyone, which is about humanity coming together to make something—and in this case, some place—better for our future generations.”

With a sound that cannot fit into one specific genre, it’s no surprise that The Infatuations draw inspiration from bands and artists of various genres. Motown artists, Led Zeppelin, Def Leppard, Radiohead, Jeff Buckley, The Bee Gees and Donny Hathaway are all on the list. One thing is for sure: The Infatuations put on an amazing live show.

The band is playing several dates this summer, including a performance at New Center Park, 2990 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit, on Thursday, August 28. While the band tours all over the map and gets to explore different cities, Detroit is the one they love the most.

“Detroit is beautiful. It’s a very spiritual place for creative folks to be and grow,” Draheim said. “I hope it stays that way… Detroit, for the moment, is still sort of affordable, it’s eclectic, it’s DIY and it’s incredibly magnetic. There are a lot of great venues for bands to play. Last, but certainly not least, Detroit is the birthplace of some of the greatest music ever made. I’m honored and proud to say The Infatuations are a part of, and from, Detroit.”

For more information on The Infatuations, visit the band’s official website or Facebook page.

- See more at: http://chevydetroit.com/fall-crazy-in-love-with-the-infatuations/#sthash.rZNjUcvZ.dpuf - Chevy Drives The Motor City

The title of the opening track on The Infatuations’ “Detroit Block Party” says it all: “Tonight We Celebrate.”

Lead singer Caleb Gutierrez yells, “Get up!” and adds, “If you came to party, you came to the right place.”

“We wanted to set the tone that this is a soundtrack for party events in your life whether it’s a graduation party or wedding, just hanging out for the weekend or whatever it is, we want to be that soundtrack,” said guitarist and band co-founder Christian Draheim. “‘Tonight We Celebrate’ is a song about let’s go have a good time.

“I think so many artists are so deep and so heavy; they have so many important things to say. And at the end of the day, I started doing music because it was fun; it was a way to escape all the important, mundane stuff.”

Fans have been moving and grooving since the Motor City band’s disc dropped in May. The group’s retro-sounding modern mix of rock, Motown, soul and funk has been compared to Fitz & The Tantrums and Mayer Hawthorne.

Essential to that sound is Gutierrez’s distinctive voice.

“[Marco Lowe, band co-founder and songwriter, and I] knew we had to find the right lead singer for this project,” Draheim said. “We had come up with a description of what we should keep our eyes and ear open for: Somebody who has that power and depth of a Levi Stubbs and the full vocal range of Stevie Wonder and can get a little gritty and sound like Rob Tyner, somebody who can symbolize all these Detroit vocalists and have their on thing at the same time.”

Draheim saw Gutierrez take the stage at an open-mic night at a Dearborn bar in 2009.

“It was the first time I heard Caleb sing. And the whole place stopped, even the dart game. He commanded the whole place,” Draheim recalled.

Gutierrez joined the lineup in 2010. One year later, The Infatuations released a video for the single, “Blame It on You.”

“We had a pretty good idea of what we wanted our sound to be; it was kind of a combination of Motown, funk and Detroit-inspired rock ‘n’ roll,” Draheim said. “ ‘Blame It on You’ really had that backbeat Motown feel to it, just something easy for everybody to grab on to and sing along to with us.”

Since then, the group has shared the stage with George Clinton and the P-Funk All-Stars and Here Come the Mummies.

“As we started playing festivals, I noticed that there’s young people, there’s older people, there are all sorts of different ethnic backgrounds in front of us,” Draheim said. “I think there’s something in [our music] for everybody.”

Get ready to dance: The Infatuations — Draheim, Gutierrez, Lowe, bassist the Wolf, guitarist Nick Behnan and drummer Bobby Myers — will cruise down I-75 to play the main stage at 10 p.m. Sept. 5 at the Black Swamp Arts Festival in Bowling Green. The group also will take the family stage at 1:20 Sept. 6.

See the lineup for the free three-day festival at blackswamparts.org. - Toledo Free Press

Closing out the festival from 8:30 to 10 p.m. Aug. 3 on the Main Stage is Detroit-based band The Infatuations.

With its catchy pop-rock-soul-and-funk sound that is both danceable and unforgettable, the band was nominated for 14 awards at the 2014 Detroit Music awards, winning five, including Outstanding Live Performance. - Press and Guide - Dearborn MI

Detroit has always been a melting pot of several different cultures, each adding its unique cultural traditions and adding to the city’s rich musical heritage. The Detroit area’s diverse population includes French, Belgian, German, Irish, Hispanic, Polish, Greek, Italian, Middle Eastern, and African-American populations. This diversity has helped Detroit in developing many well-known musical legends and each generation has managed to develop a performer who has achieved national fame.

Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, the Detroit blues scene gave us John Lee Hooker, while the jazz scene gave us Milt ‘Bags’ Jackson, the Jones Brothers, Yusef Lateef, and Alice Coltrane, although jazz would get eclipsed by rhythm-and-blues (R&B) in the 1950s.

Detroit became the center of the R&B universe in the 1960s with the rise of Motown. Not only did they give us such acts as the Miracles, Marvelettes, Supremes, Four Tops, Temptations, Contours, and Stevie Wonder, but behind the label’s huge list of hits and hitmakers was an unnamed studio band called the Funk Brothers. These guys were all playing in jazz and rhythm-and-blues bands before Barry Gordy recruited them for the studio.

Detroit bred rock n’ roll started to take form in the 1960s and 1970s giving us Mitch Ryder, MC5, Iggy & The Stooges, Alice Cooper, Bob Seger, Ted Nugent, Dick Wagner’s Frost, and The Rockets.

In the 1980s we saw the rise of the Romantics, Was (Not Was), Seduce, and Rhythm Corps.

In the 1990s, Detroit gave us Aaliyah, Eminem, Sponge, Kid Rock, and the White Stripes.

Here we are in the new millennium and what does Detroit have to offer? Who will be the city’s next rising stars? What artist will the world look back upon and remember as having a huge impact in the 2000s? The Infatuations, that’s who!

Some might think that Motown is dead but they are completely wrong. Motown comes back to us in the form of The Infatuations. This is not your parent’s Motown but a reimagined version for a new generation. These guys are heavily influenced by the funk, soul and rhythm-and-blues that were so prominent in Motown. They are not trying to reinvent the wheel. However, they play with such confidence that you would think they had invented the genre.

One of the best things about music from Detroit is it is incredibly diverse. Detroit has a ‘honey pot’ of incredible musicians ranging in all musical genres. The Infatuations are a result of this. They take the best of what the city has to offer and transforms it for a new generation. It is not easy to typecast them into any certain musical category although one might want to call it Rock n’ Soul. The Infatuations breathe fresh life into the music scene by blending a mix of funk, soul, pop and just about every other aspect of music that defines Detroit since its birth. The Infatuations sound just like… well, just like Detroit!

It’s hard to believe that The Infatuations are a relatively new band. They play with the same heart and soul as such classic artists as Smokey Robinson, Al Green, Sly and the Family Stone, Marvin Gaye and Otis Redding mixed with the extraordinary musicianship of the Funk Brothers, 94 East, The Time, P-Funk, New Power Generation, and Red Hot Chili Peppers. However, The Infatuations do it in a way without being a derivative of any of these listed artists.

The band began as an acoustic duo to attract business into the Eclipz Lounge in the Greektown Casino. They went through several musicians before solidifying their current line-up of Caleb Gutierrez (vocals), Christian Draheim (lead guitar), The Wolf (bass), Chris Polite (rhythm guitar), Robert Myers (drums), and Nick Behnan (lead guitar). Known for their electrifying live shows, The Infatuations have delivered a celebration of high energy rock ‘n soul to audiences of all ages since 2009.

In 2009, the group released their début EP, January Sessions, and in 2012, they released a live record, Recorded Live in Front of a Studio Audience, all on their own Acid Groove Records label.

As part of the Detroit Music Awards (DMA), they won the vitaminwater People’s Choice Award in 2011 and 2012 and an Emmy nomination in 2012 for their Blame It On You music video. The Infatuations were Top 25 Finalists out of over 12,000 bands in the 2013 Hard Rock Rising Global Battle of the Bands competition. Also in 2013, they received two DMAs for Outstanding Urban/Funk Artist/Group and Outstanding Urban/Funk Recording for their live EP. Most recently, they received five DMAs for Outstanding R&B Artist/Group, Outstanding Live Performance, Outstanding Rock/Pop Songwriter, Outstanding Blues/R&B Recording for Yesterday Morning and Outstanding Video/Independent for Yesterday Morning.

With their newest release, Detroit Block Party, The Infatuations are ready to turn their Detroit Block Party into a worldwide party. Also released on their Acid Grooves label, the album was recorded at Rustbelt Studios and Acid Groove Studios and produced by the songwriting/production duo DraLo, LLC (Christian Draheim and Marco Lowe) with Robert Myers.

The album opens up with Tonight We Celebrate. Gutierrez sets the pace for the whole album in the first line of the song, “What’s up everyone? If you came to party, you came to the right place.” This is a really fun song. At times, it reminds me of a James Brown song with a Nile Rodgers/Bernard Edwards disco vibe thrown in.

Dancin’ On My Knees has a great rock n’ soul vibe to it. The guitar reminds me of Lenny Kravitz, especially Lenny’s Mama Said era.

Livin’ Here Without You is a fun sounding song along the lines of Walking On Sunshine by Katrina and the Waves. I found myself tapping my foot and snapping my fingers along to the beat.

Back Again slows the pace down. Here, Gutierrez shows us his soft side. The melody has a 1950s doo- wop feel to it along the lines of something you might hear from the Platters.

Harley Girl has a down n’ dirty bluesy rock feel to it. I can easily see this song being used for a strip-tease. “She’s got soul, got rhythm, Ooh she’s trouble I love getting into. She’s got style, yeah she’ll rock it. She’s my Harley Girl and we’re goin’ riding all night long.”

Let It Ride is a soulful ballad with some wonderful female background vocals. It’s an upbeat song about taking a chance on love.

Diamond Disco starts out with a wonderful flamenco style guitar intro then switches into a 70′s Chic disco-funk style sounding groove. Backed by wonderful female vocals, Gutierrez shows us his multifaceted vocal range on this one. From smooth, laid back to upbeat and boisterous, Gutierrez’s voice soars over the music showing us that he can easily sing it all. Forget Stevie Wonder’s song Superstition, I see a dance revival of the Electric Slide being done to this one!

On Box of Shells, Gutierrez is mesmerizing with his smooth, sultry voice. The music starts out with a 70s Barry White feel but quickly switches to a New Power Generation sound with a modern vibe.

Yesterday Morning is a wonderfully sung mellow song that reminds me of the Impressions classic tune People Get Ready with some Otis Redding mixed in.

Drop Top Lover is another rock n’ soul sounding song reminiscent of James Brown mixed with some Lenny Kravitz. The guitar work, in the beginning of the song, has a Jimi Hendrix feel to it.

Down Jefferson, my favorite track off the album, adds a little jazz and some gospel. It reminds me of What’s Going On by Marvin Gaye. This song has an important message “When the lights go down in Detroit you can hear the sirens singing in the air. It’s a desperate situation if you’re not from here you couldn’t understand. The system works against us, they promise hope while stealing from our hand. But you know I am a survivor, I won’t play their game I’ve got a plan.” Although the song’s message relates directly to the people of Detroit, the same message can be said for numerous cities across America.

The album ends with a hip hop style sounding drumbeat and the faint sound of a choir which segues into a speech about Detroit spoken by Detroit Mayor, Mike Duggan.

To quote Mike Duggan, “Here’s what I know for sure. We all share the same dreams. And, as you know, it does not matter if you are black, brown or white. It does not matter if you are Christian, Jewish or Muslim. It does not matter if you are gay or straight. It does not matter if you were born in the city of Detroit or you’re an immigrant from another country. All of us are sharing a dream to rebuild this city together.” As for The Infatuations, they are doing just that, one song at a time. - National Rock Review

‘Detroit Block Party’
The Infatuations (Acid Groove)
4 stars out of 5

The Infatuations, one of the Motor City’s best-kept musical secrets, seem poised to raise their profile considerably. The six-member rock and soul collective have a dynamite new album out in “Detroit Block Party” and recently took home five Detroit Music Awards. Fans of modern throwbacks like Fitz & the Tantrums, Eli “Paperboy” Reed and Mayer Hawthorne need to track down a copy of this gem.

The “Party” gets off to a fast start with “Tonight We Celebrate” and “Dancin’ on My Knees,” and The Infatuations keep the hits coming with “Harley Girl,” “Let It Ride,” “Box of shells,” “Drop Top Lover” and set closer “Down Jefferson.” Can’t wait for these guys to bring their act to the Burgh. You better believe I’ll be there. (Jeffrey Sisk) - PGH In Tune - Pittsburgh PA

If Saturday night wasn’t one of the most beautiful of the year thus far, we don’t know what good weather is. And to make the evening that much more wondrous, Detroit’s The Infatuations, along with Ty Stone, held their dual album release party at St. Andrew’s Hall. The crowd was bouncy, dancing as both of the headliners dropped their newest tunes. Judging by the vibe in the room, love was just oozing from all attendees (or everyone had their fair share of PBR. Or both.) We spotted Jennifer Champagne, Janel Stone, Christina Chriss of Kaleido, and David Brisbois of North Star Media in the crowd among so many more. In fact, it seemed like the entire Detroit music scene was in attendance, whooping it up for these hometown favorites. - Metro Times - Detroit

As I drove downtown Saturday around 5 PM, I wondered how the night was going to turn out. Although I had heard of the bands I was going to see that evening, I had never seen any of them perform live. Sure, I had heard that both Ty Stone and the Infatuations, both releasing new CDs that night, were amazing. I have been told that before and been disappointed. My experience consisted of watching a YouTube video of The Infatuations about two weeks ago and I only hoped that the live sound would be as good as the edited sound. I arrived at St. Andrews around 5:45 PM, checked in, got my media credentials, and walked into the main room. It was already full even though there were still about an hour and a half until the event began. Photographers from several media outlets were taking photos of the bands with their fans, friends, and family that all showed up in support. I stayed back and watched as so many people were eagerly anticipating what was in store for the night.

The first band to take the stage was Shotgun Soul, a nine piece ensemble complete with a horn section. This band, fronted by the amazing Liz Girard on vocals was jazzy, funky, lively, and a definite testament to "old school" music. I figured that if this was any indication for how the night was going to go, I was in for a great night of music. Sometimes it is hard for me to get into some opening bands but I was definitely impressed and found myself paying attention and dancing along to their entire set.

Next up was Stereo Jane (formerly See Jane Rock), who kept the mood high and the groove going. The five- piece band, which show cased a set of twin girls on drums and vocals was not something I was prepared for. It is not often you see a girl on drums, but to see a girl play drums well was definitely a surprise.

Ty Stone was next on stage and this guy is so incredibly happy that he makes everyone around him happy. His grin is infectious and you can tell that he is having the time of his life up on stage. His style is something that anyone from any background can relate to because it is simply good music. Every song he played that night was something that I could relate to and while I may not have experienced the Ty Stone magic before, I am a fan for sure now.

It was then time for the headliners to take the stage. Before I go into what was probably one of the best live performances I have seen this year, let me give you a little background about The Infatuations, who are managed by Detroit based 7 Stone Management. First, they won five Detroit Music Awards this year. That to me is a sign if ever there was one that you should pay attention to this band. Their classic (and extremely well dressed) style is something that people from the west side to the east side as well as north and south rave about. They are a mix of r&b, soul, funk, jazz, in short, they epitomize what is truly the “Motown” sound. The first time I heard Caleb Gutierrez’s voice was in a YouTube video I watched after a friend suggested that I would love them. From the first note, I was hooked. He bares his soul in his music and it is something that is evident even if you have your eyes closed. I loved watching him dance around the stage and engage every person in the room. He is not the only one up there that is mesmerizing. Although it is usually his height and his Mohawk with designs shaved in the sides of his head that makes you notice Rhythm Guitarist Chris Polite at first, it is his well played riffs, stage presence, and supporting vocals that make you pay attention and want to know more. Bass player “The Wolf” makes sure that there is always a funky bass line that keeps you dancing. His style is a little different from the rest of the band. Nevertheless he fits in with them perfectly. Both lead guitarists Christian Draheim and Nick Benhan play flawlessly and I was interested to see what the dynamic would be with three separate guitar players on stage. It did not clutter the music at all but rather added to the fullness of the sound. Last but certainly nowhere near, least is drummer Robert Myers who sounds like he was born with drumsticks in his hand. Gnyp from 93.9 The River said, “If you want to know how Detroit actually parties, watch the Infatuations”. I think that quote is dead on. They ended their set with a cover of The Temptations “Papa Was a Rolling Stone” which is probably my favorite Temptations song and as I have stated before, I get very nervous when bands cover songs, especially high profile, well known songs. It is just so unlikely that they will get it right. Well…the Infatuations did much more than get it right. They nailed it. I have only seen one band cover this song before and like it and they are musicians who have been playing for over 30 years. That cover has now been replaced by The Infatuations’ version.

What made me happy about this show, in addition to the fantastic music happening all night was the amount of support that was shown. It was kind of like a Michigan Music Scene & Friends party. I saw so many different people from promoters to bands to media all coming together to support our local music scene. I read a quote once that said “Your favorite National band was once someone’s favorite Local band” and I have made it a point to remember that every since because if we don’t support our local musicians, how will they ever get to be someone’s favorite National band?

All in all it was a great show and I am now a fan of some new bands. I will definitely keep The Infatuations' tour schedule handy as I cannot see myself missing another one and if you have not yet seen them, definitely make the effort. - Examiner

Summer. Party. Record. That's really all you need to know about The Infatuations new album Detroit Block Party (Acid Groove Records). With a familiar Detroit flavor thrown in as an added bonus, the band has a familiar sound that references Motown, The MC5 and P-Funk all in the same song. And the new full-length showcases the fun, versatile style in grand fashion.

In case you've been hiding under a rock, you might not know that Mayor Duggan might as well declare 2014 as the summer of The Infatuations. Since the record release show with Ty Stone back in May, The Infatuations have been everywhere. Festivals, block parties, even Tigers games at the CoPa. This summer has been one big coming out party for the band, and this record has been the soundtrack.

At its core, The Infatuation are the brainchild of founding members Marco Lowe and Christian Draheim, and Detroit Block Party is the culmination of that dream. The duo make up the songwriting/production team Dra/Lo, and along with drummer Robert Myers their unique, funky flavor is all over this record. But the band as a whole is what brings the music to life, both on tape and live. The Infatuations have a retro-soul vibe in the same vein as Vintage Trouble or Fitz and the Tantrums, but with a distinct Detroit rock edge. You can dance to and just as easily play air guitar to any song on the record.

"Tonight We Celebrate" kicks off the record as a perfect radio-ready dance party anthem. With a slinky-funky disco groove, and an infectious refrain, it's nearly impossible to resist singing "Don't stop the mu-sic!" As with "Dancin on My Knees" and "Diamond Disco", the band sometimes rides the line of cliched disco, but pulls it back in with Draheim and Behnan's edgy rock guitar work. Add to the mix the storng, soulful voice of Caleb Gutierrez and The Infatuations are a four star restaurant. Gutierrez really carries the record and keeps listeners engaged as he easily shifts dynamics between sweet and soft on "Yesterday Morning" and sharp and assertive on "Box of Shells." And even though the band switches up the vibe here and there, it has a cohesive feel that makes you want to listen to the whole record without having to skip around.

All in all, Detroit Block Party is exactly what it says it is. A funky, rockin' dance record with a little something for everyone. Make sure you grab a copy and catch the band at one of the many live appearances this summer.

But, you don't have to take my word for it. Take a listen right here and give it a spin. - Motor City Blog

The title of the opening track on The Infatuations’ Detroit Block Party says it all: “Tonight We Celebrate.”

Lead singer Caleb Gutierrez yells, “Get up!” and adds, “If you came to party, you came to the right place.”

“We wanted to set the tone that this is a soundtrack for party events in your life whether it’s a graduation party or wedding, just hanging out for the weekend or whatever it is, we want to be that soundtrack,” said guitarist and band co-founder Christian Draheim. “‘Tonight We Celebrate’ is a song about let’s go have a good time.
“I think so many artists are so deep and so heavy; they have so many important things to say. And at the end of the day, I started doing music because it was fun; it was a way to escape all the important, mundane stuff.”

Fans have been moving and grooving since the Motor City band’s disc dropped in May. The group’s retro-sounding modern mix of rock, Motown, soul and funk has been compared to Fitz & The Tantrums and Mayer Hawthorne.

Essential to that sound is Gutierrez’s distinctive voice.

“[Marco Lowe, band co-founder and songwriter, and I] knew we had to find the right lead singer for this project,” Draheim said. “We had come up with a description of what we should keep our eyes and ear open for: Somebody who has that power and depth of a Levi Stubbs and the full vocal range of Stevie Wonder and can get a little gritty and sound like Rob Tyner, somebody who can symbolize all these Detroit vocalists and have their on thing at the same time.”

Draheim saw Gutierrez take the stage at an open-mic night at a Dearborn bar in 2009.

“It was the first time I heard Caleb sing. And the whole place stopped, even the dart game. He commanded the whole place,” Draheim recalled.

Gutierrez joined the lineup in 2010. One year later, The Infatuations released a video for the single, “Blame It on You.”

“We had a pretty good idea of what we wanted our sound to be; it was kind of a combination of Motown, funk and Detroit-inspired rock ‘n’ roll,” Draheim said. “ ‘Blame It on You’ really had that backbeat Motown feel to it, just something easy for everybody to grab on to and sing along to with us.”

Since then, the group has shared the stage with George Clinton and the P-Funk All-Stars and Here Come the Mummies.

“As we started playing festivals, I noticed that there’s young people, there’s older people, there are all sorts of different ethnic backgrounds in front of us. And the crowd is four times the size it was when we finished our set versus when we started,” Draheim said. “I think there’s something in [our music] for everybody.”

Get ready to dance: The Infatuations — Draheim, Gutierrez, Lowe, bassist the Wolf, guitarist Nick Behnan and drummer Bobby Myers — will cruise down I-75 to open The University of Toledo’s Music Fest Friday, Aug. 29, at 4 p.m. in the Rocket Hall parking lot.

It’ll be the good-time band’s debut performance in the Glass City.

“I’ve heard nothing but great things about The University of Toledo Music Fest,” Draheim said. “Our drummer actually worked on the crew that set up the sound system last year and said, ‘Man, if there’s a way we can play this, that would be awesome.’ And here we are this year playing it. We’re excited.” - UT News - Toledo OH

Music Fest will kick off with a group ready to entertain every type of crowd.

The Infatuations, a Detroit-based band that plays music inspired by the Motor City, will take the stage Friday, Aug. 29, at 4 p.m. in the Rocket Hall parking lot on Main Campus. The free, public event will continue to 11:30 p.m.
The Infatuations mix pop, rock, soul and funk to recreate signature sounds of Detroit with a modern flair. Their most recent album, Detroit Block Party, is a reflection of their favorite music styles as well as love for their hometown.

Songs like “Tonight We Celebrate,” “Dancin’ On My Knees” and “Livin’ Here Without You” are sure to get people dancing.

In 2014, The Infatuations were nominated for 14 Detroit Music Awards and brought home five, including Outstanding Live Performance.

Learn more about the band at theinfatuations.com. - UT News - Toledo OH

The Infatuations brought home five Detroit Music Awards this year, and for good reason. Their self-dubbed “Detroit Block Parties” are rich energy and joy - with the five members of the band promising to make you a part of their family during every performance. Best yet, they’re well-known for encompassing all of the sound’s Detroit is known for, from Motown to MC5. Doors open for this free show at 7 p.m. Experience the hype at New Center Park. - Metro Times - Detroit

The Infatuations - Detroit block party (2014) Acid Groove Records
Produced by The Infatuations
SOUL / FUNK / ROCK
Tracks : 1.Tonight we celebrate 2.Dancin´ on my knees 3.Livin´ here without you 4.Back again 5.Harley girl 6.Let it ride 7.Diamond disco 8.Box of shells 9.Yesterday morning 10.Drop top lover 11.Down Jefferson
www.facebook.com/TheInfatuations
3,5 out of 5

It´s disco rock time with motor city boys The Infatuations, from Detroit the city that gave us artists like Alice Cooper, Ted Nugent, Stevie Wonder, Grand Funk Railroad, Marvin Gaye etc.
The Infatuations debut album "Detroit block party" gives the listener an injection of Motown a la The Supremes, the funk of Ohio Players and the rock of Lenny Kravitz.
Their singer Caleb Gutierrez is the star here, he´s really brilliant.
If you dig classic songs like "Play that funky music" by Wild Cherry or "Wishing well" by Terence Trent D´Arby, you´re gonna love this album.
A great album with highlights such as "Tonight we celebrate", "Drop top lover" and "Down Jefferson". - Palace of Rock - Sweden

The Infatuations – “Yesterday Morning” – Outstanding R&B Artist/Group

The Infatuations are becoming, well, quite the infatuation of many Detroiters. They’re quickly turning into one of Detroit’s hottest bands – combining a music style of R&B, soul, funk, disco, and pop, all with a rocking twist. They were nominated for an astounding 14 awards across multiple categories at the 2014 Detroit Music Awards and took home five awards! Check them out here! - CW50 - Detroit

The Infatuations – “Harley Girl”

The Infatuations play a hard-hitting, soul-driving rock. They’re known around town for their electrifying live performances and infectious energy on stage. So, you know you don’t want to miss all the fun, they play the Jack Daniels stage on Sunday at 5:40pm! Check them out here! - CW50 - Detroit

The Infatuations – “Blame It On You”

This infectious pop-funk-rock band compels you to dance and groove…check out their Emmy nominated music video to “Blame It On You” here! - CW50 - Detroit

CD TITLE: Detroit Block Party
DetroitBlockParty
ARTIST: The Infatuations
RELEASE DATE: May 10th, 2014
MEMBERS:
Caleb Gutierrez ~ vocals
Christian Draheim ~ lead guitar
Robert Myers ~ drums
The Wolf ~ bass
Nick Behnan ~ lead guitar
Chris Polite ~ guitar
TRACK LISTINGS:
1) Tonight We Celebrate
2) Dancin' On My Knees
3) Livin' Here Without You
4) Back Again
5) Harley Girl
6) Let It Ride
7) Diamond Disco
8) Box of Shells
9) Yesterday Morning
10) Drop Top Lover
11) Down Jefferson

RECORDED AT: Rustbelt Studios / Acid Groove

Dr2 View:

When you mention the name Detroit, the first things that come to mind are automobiles and Motown, a designation that all of us are proud of. The automobile industry is still here, and as we all know Berry Gordy Jr decided to pack up shop and move Motown out to LaLa Land “Back in ‘72”, but that Motown Sound never left this city. Today you need not look past that iconic building on West Grand Boulevard before you’ll find Detroit’s own Infatuations, living, breathing, and creating that classic sound right here in the heart of this proud city.

Their upcoming release, Detroit Block Party, set to drop this Saturday, will get you off your feet and dancing in the streets (or on your knees)! Block Party is a rollicking thoroughfare of ingenious riffs layered with catchy hooks that are topped off with vocal runs that would make Stevie Wonder jealous! From the Bruno Mars-esq Tonight We Celebrate, to the hometown ode of hope & sorrow, Down Jefferson, The Infatuations blend Detroit grit with soulful R&B, creating a distinctive sound all their own. Singer Caleb Gutierrez delivers masterful vocals across the disc with ease leading the group through a montage of life that literally shines a light on why the Motown sound was so huge. With tracks like Dancing on My Knees,Drop Top Lover, and Harley Girl you know you’re in for a Block Party, Detroit style!


If Motown were still in town today, The Infatuations would be at the top of that hit making machine, so go ahead give it a download, then a spin, and we dare you not to want to put on those dancing shoes and start boogie’n to the sounds! Better yet, bring those dancing shoes down to Saint Andrews Hall this Saturday May 10th when the Infatuations celebrate the release of Detroit Block Party with Ty Stone, Stereo Jane, & ShotGun Soul - all ages show, tix HERE. Download your copy today on iTunes HERE. DetroitRockReview.com ~ The Only Place for Local Music News & Reviews! - Detroit Rock Review

Today the soulful multi-genre Detroit group The Infatuations tells us about the song "Down Jefferson" from their brand new album "Detroit Block Party". Here is the story:

Christian & Marco - aka songwriting team "DraLo": One night, at the end of rehearsal while everyone was breaking down, Nick started playing this haunting guitar picking riff that had a feel similar to "Turn the Page" by Bob Seger. I remember being drawn in by the vibe of the riff. Then Caleb sang the first line "When the lights go down in Detroit" and just hummed through some melodies. I mentioned that I thought it had tremendous potential and we should write a "Detroit'" themed song around that line. We'd been waiting for the right song idea to experiment with and explore adding Hip Hop elements to it, and we ended up putting a loop underneath the main guitar riff that ties the groove together.

When writing the lyrics we wanted to paint a picture of the reality of the despair felt by many and then bring it all together with a message of hope and love for the city that so many people feel. The first part of the song is about the desperation that people have felt through the years. The pre-chorus and chorus are basically saying that "we are the answer". Lets stop waiting for some outside force to come in and fix things. Let's take things into our own hands and take action on our own to rebuild Detroit. The song is meant to inspire people come together and make this city great once again.

Jefferson Ave. is a main thoroughfare that runs parallel with the Detroit River for the entire length of the city, and we wanted to use a point of reference that everyone knew and everyone could understand. If you are from here, when you think of Jefferson Ave., you think of Detroit. The choir was the last part of the writing process. Detroit has a great Gospel heritage and we wanted the song to have that "everyone come together and sing" feel to it, and the choir gives that sense of community to the song. Some songs are difficult and laborious to translate from an idea to an actual album track, but Down Jefferson was captured perfectly the way we envisioned it and we couldn't be happier with the end result.

Nick - guitar: When I originally wrote the riff I had it in mind for a hip hop song, something melodic that would work over a heavy beat. The song formed in to something both desperate and hopeful sounding, fitting for a song about Detroit and Marco was inspired the same way when he heard the riff for the 1st time!

Caleb - singer: It's pretty straight forward and literal. Detroit is unfortunately known around the world as a city with high crime and a place to be scared of. The opening line is explaining and setting up a scenario for the listener to be put in to understand Detroit. 'Down Jefferson' is a song of hope and truth. It specifically talks about Detroit but the bigger message can be understood by everyone, which is about humanity coming together to make something and in this case some place better for our future generations.

Hearing is believing. Now that you know the story behind the song, listen for yourself here and learn more about the album, the group and see where you can see them live right here - anti music

GroundSounds recently caught up with lead guitar Christian Draheim for an exclusive interview, check it out below, then do your ears a favor and listen to the premiere of ”Dancin’ On My Knees” & “Let It Ride.”



For those just discovering The Infatuations, how did you guys come together and start making music?

The Infatuations was formed by songwriting/producer duo DraLo—the collaborative teaming up of the band’s two founding members Christian Draheim and Marco Lowe as an acoustic cover/original duo that quickly turned into a trio in 2009 with the aim of bringing in a few dollars and writing some songs together. Marco and I met through a mutual friend in the mid 90′s while were in different bands. We had briefly collaborated on a couple of song ideas and after 10 years of speaking only occasionally we reconnected due to Janel Stone asking me to put a project together to help bring some traffic into a new ultra lounge she was overseeing. After 2.5 years of searching and playing with a rotating cast of talented Detroit musicians, the lineup was complete featuring Draheim, vocalist Caleb Gutierrez, guitarist Chris Polite, bassist The Wolf, drummer/percussionist Robert Myers, and guitarist Nick Behnan.

What inspired the name The Infatuations?

A musical vision and a combination of Detroit, Motown and a conversation. Detroit is intriguing and mysterious and people become infatuated with it. Motown had some of the greatest and classiest band names. The Temptations, the Supremes, etc. In reference to a couple’s on again off again relationship the conversation ended with “well there’s a fine line between love and infatuation”. It sort of presented it’s self and by the 2nd or 3rd time we said it out loud we knew we our name.

What was it like working on your latest album Detroit Block Party? Can you tell us about bringing this LP to fruition?

Detroit Block Party is the fruition of 5 years of songwriting, building the band, developing together as a band and establishing a foundation as band…a musical vision that has lead up to this album. We started with 23 songs and had to narrow down to 11 for DBP. Working on the album from a producer’s standpoint was a combination of work and fun. Some songs came together fairly quick and we recorded with ease, but there were also times that it was grueling work trying to capture the sound and vision of each song. We found however that when those magical moments would happen and we knew we had something very special, it made all the writing, re-writing and recording and re-recording and mixing worth it. And the end result came out beyond our wildest expectations.


What do you guys enjoy most about block parties?

I think Block Parties represent the best we can be as communities. We get together and meet new people and laugh, eat great food, share drinks, listen to great music and forget about life’s troubles for a short period of time and we hope Detroit Block Party becomes the soundtrack to it all.

Congrats on winning 5 awards at the Detroit Music Awards, can you tell us about this night and what you guys were feeling?

Thank you, that’s very kind of you. We were feeling shocked, thankful and humbled. I think we’re all still a little overwhelmed to have so much love and support from our brothers and sisters in the Detroit music community. It was great evening full of catching up, networking and of course promoting our up coming release at. Detroit is a great place to have a band, there are lots of folks who help each other out here. It’s really inspiring and the night of the DMA’s we were definitely feeling some positive energy. It’s a beautiful thing.

What do you guys enjoy most about performing live?

Connecting with people and watching them smiling, dancing, and singing back to you the songs that you wrote. Knowing and seeing that our music and performance is having an impact on people in a positive way.

Can you tell us about the creative and writing process for your track “Let It Ride?”

It was one of those magical songs that kind of came very easily. Once we had the title “Let It Ride” lyrics were written about a couple in a relationship where the girl is worried that the man might be wanting to leave her and because of that she is being distant and putting up a wall so she won’t get hurt. So the song is basically him calming her and reassuring her that he loves her and will be with her for better or worse until the end always.

What is it about Detroit that you guys enjoy most?

The Spirit. Detroiters are incredibly resilient and stay very positive in the face of adversity. For the most part Detroiters have always had a very blue collar “pull yourself up” type of work ethic. And the rich musical heritage is second to nowhere else on earth and we are very proud to be a small part of that. We practice 3 blocks from where all of those great Motown songs were recorded and it is amazing to drive by “Hitsville U.S.A” and continue with this dream that started there so many years ago.

What is it about the rock/soul combination that intrigues you?

The feeling you get playing it is infectious and the space to explore creatively with the combination of the two without losing or confusing our identity is a massive space. It’s gotta groove you, it’s gotta hook you, it’s gotta rock too.

Can you tell us about the inspiration for the track “Dancin’ On My Knees?”

Dancin’ On My Knees is inspired by a favorite quote about gratitude that I meditate on when life gets tough.. The quote is this.. ”Life may not be the party you hoped for, but while you’re here you might as well Dance! ” Dancin’ On My Knees is about being in a relationship where someone has a really tight grip and is needy and you feel suffocated. I think a lot of people have felt that way. You want to enjoy life and be happy, but this person is always weighing your spirit down. And the person is saying I wanna Dance through this life and be happy but it’s painful because i can’t stand up from all the weight and it hurts when the only dancing you can do is on your knees. It’s about wanting to break free..

After the album release, what’s next for The Infatuations?

A promising Summer/Fall of 2014 that will be a lot of fun and hard work. Our calendar is filling up with regional dates and a few special events we are looking forward to announcing. We are considering a vinyl release of Detroit Block Party this fall too. - Ground Sounds

There are The Temptations. The Foundations. The Four Seasons. The Emotions.The Yeah Yeah Yeahs. And, then there are The Infatuations. Their first full-length album, Detroit Block Party, begins with...well...just picture yourself strolling through Downtown [City of your choice here] and you pass by this lounge/club where there's this band exciting the crowd with their nostalgic tunes. That’s the feeling I get from The Infatuations when listening to the first track, "Tonight we celebrate.”

Now on to "Livin' Here Without You.” For some reason, I picture Beverly Hills Cop Part 4 where Eddie Murphy is running down the streets of Detroit during this song. The tempo is very upbeat and could easily be the first song of a soundtrack to that or any modern romantic comedy. I liked the tom toms during the small break in the bridge. Lead vocalist Caleb Gutierrez doesn't strike me as a powerhouse voice but his vocal style matches the vintage sound his band mates and producers "DraLo" (Christian Draheim/Marco Lowe) provide. Halfway through listening to this album, I’m beginning to suspect my Chief Editor is funneling vintage artists/bands for me to critique since my last review was for an artist with a vintage sound.

And then "Back Again" plays.....and I did not rewind it back again. Next is "Harley Girl," which is an interesting title for a song. Is this a Harley Girl that has her own bike or a Harley Girl that is a girlfriend to a heavily tattooed biker named Max Stonebreaker or something? I did enjoy the musicianship of the bridge. There wasn't any mind-blowing guitar solo, just sweet grooves, licks and funky bass strums by The Wolf (no relation to The Edge). I can envision crowds dancing and singing along to this. The Infatuations do provide a lot of that, especially on "Dancin' on my knees” that remind you of Sly Stone and Parliament. And Caleb's "whooaaa's" were fun to listen to. I did rewind to hear the bridge three times.

Then all of a sudden, "Diamond Disco" plays El Mariachi strides into a Mexican saloon. The introduction sets me up for something wild. I don't like the title; I don't like any title with the word "Disco" unless it's Disco Inferno by The Trammps. So anyhoo, Desperado is about to crash through the windows, swing on a chandelier, shoot his guitar bazooka and rescue Salma Hayek but womp womp woooomp... the song turns into a Disco karaoke. I must admit, I felt a letdown after the dramatic intro. To be fair, it's not like The Infatuations didn't warn me; after all, the song IS called "Diamond Disco.” But with the guitar chord arrangement and organ, I was anticipating something in the vein of Santa Esmeralda's "Don't let me be misunderstood.” Or the Gypsy Kings meet Earth, Wind & Fire. No seriously!

I felt like the drums in "Yesterday Morning" should have remained a simple bass kick but I'm not complaining. The Isley Brothers would have paid for the rights to this song had The Infatuations wrote it in the ‘70s. Caleb's subtle vibrato is appreciated here. This song would be found in that same imaginary romantic comedy I mentioned earlier. If you’ve downloaded the song "Yesterday Morning,” play it and imagine this:

- Boy and girl go their separate ways
- They find out that life sucks without each other
- Boy returns to girl to apologize for something stupid he did
- Kiss kiss, make up, mushy chick flick stuff
- End credits.

The Infatuations manage to end with a big bang. "Down Jefferson" had me bobbing my head and resisting Hip Hop Sample Loop temptation. Assuming Christian Draheim was the one responsible for the riff, it's hot bro. Behind Caleb's voice, Draheim's riff and the synth pads were mixed in perfectly. Oooh man, and then they fade the song out by playing a break beat and the hot riff with heavy reverb in the background. The song does evoke a gritty urban feel reminiscent of Curtis Mayfield, an influence of theirs. You guys are just begging me to call your publisher to sample this, but I will respect your craft. Good job.

Save a few authentic gems that could garner some attention in a movie soundtrack, I felt like Detroit Block Party did suffer from the lack of a polished sound. Unless the sound was intentional, the whole album kept me at that Jazz club while strolling in Downtown [City of your choice here] when I would have preferred a tighter punch on the drums and overall sound. This was almost reflected on "Down Jefferson.” That could be due to the accompanying break beat behind Robert Myer's drumming. Note well: I am NOT including a song like "Livin' here without you" in this sentiment. And it's not an indictment on the drummer or anything that a sound engineer couldn't fix or switch to a different snare drum. I'm stinkin' picky like that!

The Infatuations have something to build on while they continue moving block parties in Detroit. Their affection for Motown is evident; even on their media kits they place stamps of musical legends on the envelope. Now excuse me while I sample this amazing riff.......Kidding!!! - NEWD Magazine - NYC

Motown's own The Infatuations has had quite a summer touring and performing in over 25 festivals, concerts and events including such highlights as: the Concert of Colors as a part of the Don Was Detroit All-Star Revue Tribute to Bob Seger's 'Live Bullet' album at Detroit's Orchestra Hall; playing for a full house at their "Detroit Block Party" album release at the historic St. Andrews Hall, which Metro Times called "The Event of the Year"; and performed live at Comerica Park for the Detroit Tigers versus Los Angeles Dodgers game. Additionally, The Infatuations received five 2014 Detroit Music Awards out of 14 nominations across multiple musical genres.

"The Infatuations are honored to follow Michael Moore at the Traverse City Film Festival award ceremony," said Christian Draheim of The Infatuations. "We look forward to bringing our Motown inspired rock, funk and soul to this prestigious festival celebrating filmmakers across the world." - Life Of A Rock Star - Los Angeles

One of Detroit’s most popular local bands, The Infatuations, will perform a free show at the Baronette Renaissance Hotel’s Global Day of Discovery on Thursday, June 26.

The band, which this year won five Detroit Music Awards of 14 nominations, will be headlining the program. The Global Day of Discovery is an initiative by the hotel, and the Renaissance brand worldwide, to celebrate the best of what is local.

The Infatuations present a danceable, fun blend of Motown, funk, pop and soul, and recently releasing their first full-length album “Detroit Block Party.” - Oakland Press - MI

Don Was may be an internationally renowned record producer who has worked with the likes of Bob Dylan, Ziggy Marley and The Barenaked Ladies – not to mention winning three Grammy Awards – but he’s a hometown boy who was born in Detroit and went to Oak Park High School. So, it’s fitting that Was has championed Detroit-area bands through the Concert of Colors.

The 7th Don Was All-Star Revue at the 22nd Concert of Colors features a new twist with the bands revisiting Bob Seger’s seminal 1976 album ‘Live’ Bullet at 8 p.m. Saturday, July 12 on the Meijer Main Stage at Orchestra Hall. Seger, a local hero since the mid-1960s, recorded ‘Live’ Bullet before adoring fans at Cobo Hall rocking through such hits as “Beautiful Loser, ““Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man,” “Turn the Page,” “Heavy Music” and “Katmandu.”

‘Live’ Bullet will be revisited by Scott Morgan & The Sights, Spyder Turner, Detroit Cobras, Liz Larin, Nadir w/ Steffanie Christi’an, Doop & The Inside Outlaws, Mayssa Karaa, The Infatuations, Blaire Alise & The Bombshells, Corktown Popes, Jess Domain, Luder, Lamont Zodiac and the All-Star Revue Band (Brian “Roscoe” White, Terry “Thunder” Hughley, Luis Resto, Dave McMurray, Don Was). Each band will interpret one of the 14 classic songs on the double album with their own creative vision.

Fans have been wondering and debating about which of their local heroes will be playing which song from ‘Live’ Bullet, which came out just as Seger was gaining the national profile that made him a major rock star a year later. Those pairings will be revealed as the concert unfolds at 8 p.m. July 12.

Was, the president of Blue Note Records, played on and co-produced Seger’s 1991 album The Fire Inside. He grew up listening to Seger, like so many of us, and this continues a heartfelt musical thread that has run through his life.

All these bands know Seger and the Motor City’s hard rocking reputation. And they come with the right credentials:

Scott Morgan & The Sights: Scott Morgan is up and at ’em again in a rock & soul rendezvous with the blues-rock meets heavy pop of the Sights. Morgan, an Ann Arbor native, first came to prominence fronting the Rationals in the 1960s. The Sights’ mainstay Eddie Baranek is music director at the School of Rock in Rochester.

Spyder Turner: On his 1966 cover of “Stand By Me” he channeled killer imitations of Ben E. King, Smokey Robinson, Chuck Jackson and Billy Stewart – all hit-makers of the day – and made it to No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. His career has included songwriting, and he penned the Top 10 hit “Do Your Dance” for Rose Royce.

Detroit Cobras: Known for tasty covers and a stripped-down sound the Detroit Cobras whip out bottom-shaking anthems to good times, wild nights, and the high and lows of L-U-V. The Cobras specialize in unearthing and reinvigorating the hits, near hits and sometimes total misses from the deep and groovy history of soul, and making them their own.

Liz Larin: Musical triple threat – rock, blues, electronica — Liz Larin is a musical chance-taker and chameleon who has won more Detroit Music Awards than Kid Rock, Bob Seger, The White Stripes, and Eminem combined. Larin, a former Atlantic Records artist, is known for her soul-searching lyrics and eclectic tracks.

Nadir w/ Steffanie Christi’an: Nadir Omowale wields his guitar in the true tradition of the axe-man cutting through the completion with blues-drenched chops that rip across the sky like musical lightening. Vocalist Steffanie Christi’an hits the stage with ballistic passion and power.

Doop & the Inside Outlaws: Doop & the Inside Outlaws can deliver a working class ballad reminiscent of a Bob Seger or Bruce Springsteen of the 1980s – with a country edge delivered by Pete Ballard’s pedal steel work. Doop, a laid-off firefighter, comes by his working man’s passion and direct, no frills delivery from his native River Rouge.

Mayssa Karaa: The haunting voice crooning an Arabic version of the song “White Rabbit” on the soundtrack of the movie American Hustle is that of Mayssa Karaa. Born in Lebanon, she’s the only All-Star who is not from the Detroit area.

The Infatuations: The genre-bending funky rock of this six-piece outfit has been igniting parties and scorching dance floors all over the Motor City. The infatuations collected five 2014 Detroit Music Awards garnered from 14 total nominations.

Blaire Alise & the Bombshells: Blair Alise definitely “got something” going with her power pop throwback to the ’50s and ’60s vibe that made this band One to Watch. At just 17 years old she’s got what it takes to rock Detroit.

Corktown Popes: There’s only one gear on this cruise so get ready to feel good fast with these rockin’ Corktown Popes blessing us all with Celtic hints and tints. They just took home a 2014 Detroit Music Award for Outstanding World Music Artist with their music driven with mandolin, accordion and even the pipes.

Jess Domain: Since backing up Aretha Franklin on the road for 3 years, Jess has put her fingerprint on her own domain of bright, uplifting pop rock for numerous TV shows such as “Law & Order,” “Damages” and “Melrose Place.” She was given the ASCAPLUS Songwriter Award for 2008 in recognition for her skills.

Luder (pictured in the image above): The illumination of this quartet’s music is progressive, psychedelic and stylistically intricate as it moves smoothly through layered textures of heavy rock that has as much in common with Portishead as it does with Black Sabbath. Luder’s sound is mesmerizing and illuminating like an all night drive through the desert straight into the morning sunrise.

Lamont Zodiac: This Detroit music veteran has ripped through Detroit music with the Buzztones, Lamont Zodiac and the Love Signs (with Thornetta Davis) and even lent vocals to Was (Not Was). What’s your love sign? If it’s not in Lamont’s night sky then you don’t know Detroit rock.

The All-Star Revue Band

Was has gathered some of the city’s best musicians into a band that knocks the socks off anybody who knows Detroit music – some of them Was (Not Was) veterans. Was will handle the bass duties. The band members are:

Brian “Roscoe” White: Guitarist Brian “Roscoe” White has won numerous Metro Times and Detroit Music Awards for best guitar, best R&B instrumentalist, best blues ensemble, best recording studio (Roscoe’s Recording) and best country instrumentalist award. His incendiary guitar solos can CDs by Was (Not Was), Sponge, Jill Jack and Liz Larin.

Terry “Thunder” Hughley: Drummer Terry “Thunder” is a member of the Sun Messengers, the house band at the Palace of Auburn Hills for many years. His voice can be heard on TV and radio commercials for Toyota Trucks, James Martin Chevrolet-Buick, Mr. Allen’s Shoes and Betty Crocker Cakes.

Luis Resto: Keyboardist Luis Resto was a founding member of Was (Not Was) and won both a Grammy and an Oscar in 2003 as a co-writer of Eminem’s “Lose Yourself.” He also co-wrote the 2010 Billboard No. 1 and Grammy-nominated hit “Not Afraid.” Resto has released two albums of his own compositions.

Dave McMurray: Saxophonist Dave McMurray is currently a musical mainstay and featured soloist with the R&B artist Kem as well as touring with Kid Rock. Dave’s talents as a player, writer and producer – as well as his eclectic influences — are evident on the five CDs he has released as a leader.

The Concert of Colors has the whole world in its bands. It’s a fun, community-enhancing festival of free live music at leading cultural institutions in Detroit’s bustling Midtown district. Curated by its founder, Ismael Ahmed, the festival celebrates the diverse global origins of metro Detroiters, the indigenous sounds of our musically magical hometown and the accessibility and unifying power of music. Visit www.concertofcolors.com for this year’s lineup.

The Concert of Colors is produced by the Arab American National Museum in Dearborn, Mich., with its partners Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Institute of Arts, The Wright Museum, Midtown Detroit Inc., University of Michigan – Detroit Center, BUILD Bazaar and ACCESS.

Michigan-based Meijer is the festival’s longtime major sponsor, with additional support from Comerica, Ford Motor Company, DTE Energy, Knight Foundation, General Motors, University of Michigan – Dearborn, HAP, Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and the National Endowment for the Arts. Media sponsors for this year’s festival are: Detroit Media Partnership, IXITI.com, WDET-FM, Metro Times, Yelp, New Monitor, WHFR-FM, CJAM-FM and AM 580.

Metro Times 2014 Best of Detroit named the Concert of Colors the “Best Way to be Exposed to Multiple Cultures in One Weekend.” USA Today recently named Midtown Detroit one of the USA’s 10 up-and-coming neighborhoods, along with Portland, Ore., New Orleans, St. Paul, Minn. and Santa Fe, New Mexico. - Detroit Performs

Birthed out of a correlation with artists specializing in multiple genres, The Infatuations bring powerful and flavorful music in the styles of soul, rock, funk, disco and more. Nominated for 14 music awards in Detroit, and winning many of them, this great new act is poised to make a big impact on the growing indie music scene of their region, the US, and the world.

In this episode we sit down with Christian Draheim, guitarist from the sensational indie act The Infatuations, to talk about their debut album. We’ll dive into the various layers of the band’s sound including their amalgamation of styles, and how they are playing a role in the revitalization of the city of Detroit. - Digital Spectrum Media